Defrost Fan Control Device

ABSTRACT

A defrost fan control device for a refrigerator is provided. The device comprises a container, a heat exchanger, a chamber, a suction pump, a condensate spraying device, an evaporation coil, and a blower. The suction pump is for sucking up the condensate from the container. The condensate spraying device is for spraying the condensate sucked up by the suction pump within the chamber. The evaporation coil is disposed around the condensate spraying device such that the condensate from the suction pump lands on an inner surface of the evaporation coil and evaporates the condensate. The blower is for inducing air flow within the chamber, whereby the evaporated condensate is exhausted from the chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a defrost fan control device. More particularly, this invention relates to a defrost fan control device.

A refrigerator cools down the temperature of a storage space. During the operation, the temperature difference is unavoidable between the storage space and its outside. This temperature difference results in frost and ice formed in the storage space. Such frost and ice need to be removed or molten away now and then to facilitate the cooling effect of the refrigerator.

A couple of devices have been suggested to solve the problem, but always there was one or more shortcomings. One of the major problem was a waste of energy.

Accordingly, a need for a more efficient and more defrost fan control device for refrigerators has been present for a long time considering the tendency of growing in capacity of refrigerator. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide a defrost fan control device for a refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a defrost fan control device that is highly efficient.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a defrost fan control device, in which the frost and ice can be removed without energy waste.

An aspect of the invention provides a defrost fan control device for a refrigerator, in which the refrigerator includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser.

The defrost fan control device comprises a defrost fan, a defrost heater, a defrost thermostat, and a defrost timer.

The defrost fan is configured for blowing off moisture from the storage space.

The defrost heater is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator and configured for melting frost and ice melt away from the evaporator.

The defrost thermostat is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator and configured for ending a defrosting process by the defrost fan and the defrost heater when the temperature in a vicinity of the evaporator falls into a predetermined range of temperature.

The defrost timer is for turning off a cooling process and turning on the defrosting process for predetermined time periods.

The defrost fan, the defrost heater, or the defrost fan and the defrost heater operate when the compressor operates.

The operations of the defrost fan, the defrost heater, or the defrost fan and the defrost heater are controlled by the defrost timer independently from the operation of the compressor.

The defrost fan may be disposed in the storage space.

The defrost heater may be disposed at locations where frost and ice form in the storage space.

A substantial amount of the frost and ice may melt away when the temperature in the vicinity of the evaporator falls into the predetermined range of temperature.

The defrost fan control device may further comprise a frost-ice sensor for detecting frost and ice formed at the locations.

The defrost fan and the defrost heater may be configured to operate when the frost-ice sensor detects frost or ice at the locations.

The defrost timer may be configured for operating the defrost fan and the defrost heater periodically with a first time period.

The first time period may comprise about one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and twenty four hours.

The defrost timer may be configured to operate the defrost fan and the defrost heater for a plurality of second time periods.

The plurality of second time periods may be predetermined according to temporal change and statistics of operation, energy consumption, load of the refrigerator.

The defrost timer may be configured to set the time periods and frequency of the time periods.

The defrost fan control device may further comprise a information storing device for recording operation parameters of the refrigerator.

The operation parameters may comprise an operation time of the defrost fan and the defrost heater, a state of the defrost thermostat, an ambient temperature, a temperature in the storage space, and a date-and-time.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the defrost fan control device increases the efficiency of the refrigerator; (2) the defrost fan control device gets rid of frost and ice effectively under various operational circumstances.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a defrost fan control device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another defrost fan control device according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a network of a plurality of defrost fan control devices according to still another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention provides a defrost fan control device 100 for a refrigerator 90, in which the refrigerator 90 includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator 92, a compressor 94, and a condenser 96.

The defrost fan control device 100 comprises a defrost fan 10, a defrost heater 20, a defrost thermostat 30, and a defrost timer 40.

The defrost fan 10 is configured for blowing off moisture from the storage space 92. Especially, the defrost fan 10 blows the moisture formed in the cooling process off portions where frost and ice may form.

The defrost heater 20 is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator 92 and configured for melting frost and ice melt away from the evaporator 92 and portions on which the frost and ice formed. The defrost heater 20 may be located close to those locations where the frost and ice may form easily. The defrost heater 20 may comprise electric wire with high resistance and may be powered by electricity drawn from outside.

The defrost thermostat 30 is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator 92 and configured for ending a defrosting process by the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 when the temperature in a vicinity of the evaporator 92 falls into a predetermined range of temperature. The defrost thermostat 30 may work as an electrical path which connects the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 with power supply (not shown).

The defrost timer 40 is for turning off a cooling process by the evaporator 92 and turning on the defrosting process by the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 for predetermined time periods.

The defrost fan 10, the defrost heater 20, or the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 operate when the compressor 94 operates.

The operations of the defrost fan 10, the defrost heater 20, or the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 together may be controlled by the defrost timer 40 independently from the operation of the compressor 94.

That is, the defrosting process may or may not be associated with the operation of the compressor 94.

The defrost fan 10 may be disposed in the storage space 91.

The defrost heater 20 may be disposed at locations where frost and ice form in the storage space 91.

A substantial amount of the frost and ice may melt away when the temperature in the vicinity of the evaporator falls into the predetermined range of temperature due to the operation of the defrost heater 20.

The defrost fan control device 100 may further comprise one or more frost-ice sensors 50 for detecting frost and ice formed at the locations. The one or more frost-ice sensors 50 may detect the forming of the frost and ice electrically or optically.

The defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 may be configured to operate when the frost-ice sensor 50 detects frost or ice at the locations. Each of the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 is electrically connected with the frost-ice sensors 50.

The defrost timer 40 may be configured for operating the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 periodically with a first time period.

The first time period may comprise about one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and twenty four hours.

The defrost timer 40 may be configured to operate the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20 for a plurality of second time periods.

The plurality of second time periods may be predetermined according to temporal change and statistics of operation, energy consumption, load of the refrigerator 90, such that the defrost timer may be set with different operation time determined by day, night, season, and geographical location of operation.

The defrost timer 40 may be configured to set the time periods and frequency of the time periods.

The defrost fan control device 100 may further comprise a information storing device 60 for recording operation parameters of the refrigerator 90 as shown in FIG. 3.

The operation parameters may comprise an operation time of the defrost fan 10 and the defrost heater 20, a state of the defrost thermostat 30, an ambient temperature, a temperature in the storage space 91, and a date-and-time of the operation of the refrigerator 90.

Furthermore, the defrost fan control device 100 may further comprise an information processing device 70 including a computer as shown in FIG. 3.

In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of refrigerators 90, each of which including defrost fan control device 100, may form a network through the Internet 900 and controlled by a server 80 as shown in FIG. 4.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 

1. A defrost fan control device for a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, the device comprising: a defrost fan configured for blowing off moisture from the storage space; a defrost heater disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator and configured for melting frost and ice melt away from the evaporator; a defrost thermostat disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator and configured for ending a defrosting process by the defrost fan and the defrost heater when the temperature in a vicinity of the evaporator falls into a predetermined range of temperature; and a defrost timer for turning off a cooling process and turning on the defrosting process for predetermined time periods, wherein the defrost fan, the defrost heater, or the defrost fan and the defrost heater operate when the compressor operates, wherein the operations of the defrost fan, the defrost heater, or the defrost fan and the defrost heater are controlled by the defrost timer independently from the operation of the compressor.
 2. The defrost fan control device of claim 1, wherein the defrost fan is disposed in the storage space.
 3. The defrost fan control device of claim 1, wherein the defrost heater is disposed at locations where frost and ice form in the storage space.
 4. The defrost fan control device of claim 3, wherein a substantial amount of the frost and ice melts away when the temperature in the vicinity of the evaporator falls into the predetermined range of temperature.
 5. The defrost fan control device of claim 4, further comprising a frost-ice sensor for detecting frost and ice formed at the locations.
 6. The defrost fan control device of claim 5, wherein the defrost fan and the defrost heater are configured to operate when the frost-ice sensor detects frost or ice at the locations.
 7. The defrost fan control device of claim 1, wherein the defrost timer is configured for operating the defrost fan and the defrost heater periodically with a first time period.
 8. The defrost fan control device of claim 7, wherein the first time period comprises about one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and twenty four hours.
 9. The defrost fan control device of claim 1, wherein the defrost timer is configured to operate the defrost fan and the defrost heater for a plurality of second time periods.
 10. The defrost fan control device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of second time periods are predetermined according to temporal change and statistics of operation, energy consumption, load of the refrigerator.
 11. The defrost fan control device of claim 10, wherein the defrost timer is configured to set the time periods and frequency of the time periods.
 12. The defrost fan control device of claim 10, further comprising a information storing device for recording operation parameters of the refrigerator.
 13. The defrost fan control device of claim 12, wherein the operation parameters comprise an operation time of the defrost fan and the defrost heater, a state of the defrost thermostat, an ambient temperature, a temperature in the storage space, and a date-and-time. 